Pontypool Heads Division One

1 May 2002 11:20

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Pontypool defeated Tondu by 55-6 to take what may prove to be only a 24-hour leadership of the Welsh National League Division One as rivals Aberavon go to The Wern to meet bottom club Merthyr this evening.
Pontypool ran in nine tries despite playing in atrocious conditions and Aberavon will have to win tonight and score at least nine tries to regain the lead at the top.
Big Tongan back-row forward Manu Tuipulotu led the way for Ponty with two of the tries and the second was the best score of the night.
Fly half Byron Hayward took his points tally to 344 in league rugby this season and with 57 in the Principality Cup, it means he now has 401 points overall.
It all adds up to an exciting finish with Aberavon sitting it out on Saturday when Pontypool entertain Whitland and the Gwent club are also at home next Tuesday when Bonymaen are the visitors.
Aberavon then have two matches remaining - away to Tondu on May 8 and away to Dunvant on May 11.
Pontypool have 125 tries and a points difference of +470, while Aberavon - three points behind, but with a match in hand - have 116 tries and a points difference of +510, thus if they score nine tries at Merthyr, they will lead on points ratio.

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